We blog about career trends, the future job market, and higher education in Minnesota.

Month: June 2012

Did the recession take a toll on the emerging green economy in Minnesota? Developing sectors are generally hit the hardest by economic downturns because an unfavorable investment climate hurts new technologies and products more than established ones. In fact, the number of green job opportunities in Minnesota held steady between fall 2009 and spring 2011. Not only that, but they offered higher quality employment opportunities than the rest of the economy.

Earlier this week, we looked at the top 5 projected high demand jobs in Minnesota. In addition to registered nurses, truck drivers, manufacturing sales representatives, licensed practical nurses and office supervisors, which other occupations will be in demand?

The state’s economy is projected to expand by 13 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to new data from the state’s Labor Market Information Office. By 2020, it’s estimated that there will be over one million total job openings across the state between 2010 and 2020. A post earlier this month looked at the industry outlook to 2020 in Minnesota. But what occupations will be in high demand, through new job growth and replacement hiring?

If you are entering the labor market for the first time or after a long stretch away, you want to make sure you’re relevant. Do you have the skills employers are looking for? If your answer is yes, how can you demonstrate it to an employer? In your answer is no, what can you do to get workforce ready?

Together, all the people who want to work—regardless of whether they actually do—make up the labor force. The concept of the labor force is critical because it’s essentially a measure of all the people available to fill jobs. In the midst of a recovery and the highest recorded levels of long-term unemployment, labor force participation rate can help illuminate how many people are available and what roles they’re likely to play in Minnesota’s labor force.

You don’t stop using your skills – or expanding your skills – after you get the job. As anyone who has been employed knows, to be a productive and indispensable employee, you must be forward-thinking and continue to grow your skill set. As a professional, what do you do to expand your skills on the job?

Your military experience is a great asset! You gained many valuable transferable skills and you want to let potential employers know about them — things like being able to quickly learn new skills and concepts, experience with advanced technology, teamwork, leadership, and the ability to work well under pressure. And let’s not forget any specific transferable occupational skills you gained in the military, whether as an 88M (Motor Transport Operator – or should we say Commercial Driver) or as a Navy Hospital Corpsman (Medical Specialist).

Finding work can be a challenge if you have a criminal background. It’s important to know the common barriers to employment you might face and how to respond to employer attitudes. One common misconception about people with criminal records is they lack the skills to be productive employees. The reality might be that you have skills employers want and just don’t know it.

Workers just starting out in the job market know – or will quickly learn – that there are key skills employers expect of their workforce. Often called “soft skills,” these qualities are not always learned in a classroom or on the job. But workers will take these skills to every job they have during their lifetime. A new report highlights the six key workplace skills and how they relate to work.